Thursday's first action in the 2012 AFCON finals is a Group B clash between Sudan and Angola in Bata. Angola top the group after winning their opening game and they are rated an odds on chance with the bookmakers to follow up.

Both these sides played their opening games in Malabo, Angola edged out Burkina Faso 2-1 whilst Sudan put in a gutsy performance in defeat when going down 1-0 to tournament favourites Ivory Coast. Those games were staged in Malabo and the teams stay in Equatorial Guinea but move on to Bata for this second round of group matches.

All the goals in Angola's 2-1 win over Burkina Faso came in the second half as Angola benefited from defensive errors to take a giant stride towards the quarter finals. Time-wasting tactics came under the microscope as Angola rolled out every trick in the book to defend their lead in the closing stages of the game but given they had surrendered a four goal lead in their opening game of the 2010 Finals, you can perhaps understand the desperation to stay in front. Angola were unbeaten in the 2010 group stage but they will face Ivory Coast in their final group match this time around so another win is really needed here to all but ensure a place in the quarter finals. Both strikers, Manucho and Mateus got on the scoresheet against Burkina Faso which is another tick in the right box as they prepare to meet Sudan.

Sudan had the dubious privilege of bumping Ivory Coast first up where a first half Drogba goal gave The Elephants the points. Sudan weren't too adventurous in that game but they did manage to carve out a couple of opportunities of their own and even hit the woodwork. Goal scoring certainly looks to be the major problem area for Sudan who had also failed to find the net in three pre-tournament warm up matches. Taking at least four points from their remaining two matches to have any chance of staying in the tournament looks a tall order but you could argue they have yet to show their full hand after a cagey opening game in which they were always likely to be up against it.

The Betting, Match Result

Sudan 2.85/1 Hollywood

Draw 11/5 Sportingbet

Angola 0.95 Hollywood

Selected Others

Double Chance Sudan/Draw 0.75 Hollywood, Voltbet

Half Time Result Draw, 17/20 Sportingbet, Hollywood

Half with Most Goals, 2^nd Half, even money Sportingbet

Note, odds are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Not all bookmakers had priced up at the time of writing and many more markets are available. Watch out for the option to bet “in play” where available

Analysis

This is a tricky one, I like the fact that Angola have got their strikers on the board already and they might just know a bit too much for a Sudan side who are relatively inexperienced in big occasions in recent times. However, Sudan are likely to have a very different game plan here to that adopted against Ivory Coast and they are certainly not dismissed out of hand. I'm battling to make a call but although enthusiasm for a punt in this one is limited, I'll go for the pattern of Angola's first match to be repeated and look for the second half to produce the most goals.

Bet: Half with Most Goals, 2^nd Half, even money Sportingbet

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